#third read notes

[locking-the-tomb]

Third Read Notes & Soundtrack

I wallowed for about 14 hours after finishing my Nona reread and decided to start over again and write myself some summaries during The Wait.

Gideon the Ninth Chapter 1

In which we learn Gideon is a goob but we love her.

Gideon is escaping. She stole a security cuff key but left the cuff on until the morning of. She's taking her sword, her "shoes" - later called steel toed boots- , and her smut mags. Her clothes are all synthetics. She has enough hair to brush. She knows about chocolates and fancy hotels, somehow ... from mags? From Wake/mom's niche is 22 flights of stairs up to the landing field, which is still at the bottom of a deep tunnel. There are lamps on but they're low. She's kicking apart lumps of "rubble" but that's not further described. She eats porridge from a plastic bag then throws the bag over a rail somewhere. There's a balcony area. Skeletons with red eyes go to pick snow leeks.

There are white castle doors at the bottom, "three bodies wide and six bodies tall". She talks about the figures carved into the area above the doors and remembers screaming as a kid about them creeping her out. I wonder what they are, maybe related to the killed generation? How much trauma from a two year old survivor of all the kids dying?

Muster call (20 Bells) calls back the skeletons.

That's when the Marshall/Crux stomps in to accuse her. Gideon says, "say my shuttle exploded, I died and it was such a shame". 😳 (Crux thinks great idea, will do) Introduces Frontline Titties of the Fifth. He calls her chattel. He wears a big knife over a shoulder.

He gives an impressive number of threats. Gideon wasn't bothered by Crux's threats. But then he invoked Harrow and her "palms prickled". He leaves and Aiglamene enters. Gideon says she's tried to enlist 33 times. Aiglamene has a badly repaired missing leg and a scarred face.

Gideon lists what's happened when she's tried to leave before: jammed in lift, turned off heat frostbite in three toes, poisoned. She clarifies that she's indentured not a slave and claims she's not of fiscal use there. She says she will "you can quote me 'do my duty to the ninth' ". Gideon goes on a rant about "your lady" with a host of great insults, then gets slapped.

"Nobody had ever loved her in the ninth". Aiglamene was the reason she got to have a sword and training. "I'm naturally demeaning". Aiglamene walks away and Gideon falters a bit but sticks.

"Nav was a Niner name". Mentions the prison as a bubble halfway up in the atmosphere. At the end of the chapter we get the limited story of day-old Gideon being in a bio container plugged into the suit of a braindead woman who had fallen in a suit down the shaft 18 years ago. None of the Ninth necromancers could get her ghost to do more than scream Gideon three times then she fled.

"They chipped her, surnamed her, and put her in the nursery". I don't think they mention the chips again, interesting. She was kid #201. Where did the kids come from? Had they been harvesting gametes and growing them? Because the "old" people going into the doors were heavily outnumbered by skeletons. Then two years later it was just her, Harrow (who still hasn't been directly introduced as other then Lady), and Ortus. By 10 she "knew too much and that she could never be allowed to go". Of course. Because that's when Harrow had opened the tomb and her parents had died. She had started trying to escape when she was 4.

Thoughts. What's up with all the plastic? Isn't plastic from petroleum? How would Pluto have petroleum?

[aphrodicci]

ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ʀᴜʟᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇꜱ

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♇ what is a ruler in astrology?

♇ a ruler in astrology is a planetary ruler, a planet that rules over the sign that takes over a house, for example, someone with pisces in their third house, will have jupiter and neptune as their third house ruler.

♇ my third house is ruled by neptune/jupiter, and neptune is placed in my second house in astrology whereas jupiter is in my ninth house.

mini roast session near the end?

♇ 3H RULER IN THE 1H ⟶ communication is important to these people, and they are usually very intuitive and adaptive. the type to make anyone smile with a thought they express from their mind. they're known to be perceptive and engaging can be the biggest chatterboxes but they're usually willing to help and give advice. natives with this placement are studious and usually envied or always want to be on top of the food chain. they could be the type of people to always care about what the next person thinks of them

♇ 3H RULER IN THE 2H ⟶ these people like to communicate, it gives them a sense of comfort. they could be known to be intelligent with wisdom and spirituality as they're ruled by the hierophant. people with this placement are usually thinking of the next way to make money, they embody mr krabs. they're creative and could earn money through writing/typing, could value their relatives a lot and could be known to be the sibling who spends money on their family as a love language. [might have a tendency to steal].

♇ 3H RULER IN THE 3H ⟶ writers, geniuses and enthusiasts. these people find the fun in debating or piercing through the psychology of other people. they could put off people because of how easily they see through others. people with this placement are interested in learning and other people tend to copy them due to how easily they're able to make up ideas on the spot. they eaisly attract envy but also inspiration. they known how to rhyme and sell a dime and they know how to do a skill better than the next.

♇ 3H RULER IN THE 4H ⟶ people with this allignment are people who are usually thinking for other people. they need to learn how to be selfish and think for themselves sometimes but whenever they do something for themselves there could be a guilt of not being caring enough. people who have their 3h ruler in the 4h might've been put into responsibility at a really young age so all they know is how to take care of others. they have much private thoughts and tend to be the therapist no matter what dynamic circle they're in.

♱ 3H RULER IN THE 5H ⟶ to have this allignment shows that you're always on the go. you could have the need to impress other people, and you could be considered as very flirtatious, people might never know what to take your comments as, comedic or actual serious romantic pinning. people who have this placement are likely attention seekers. they either didnt receive enough attention as a child therefore want it from other people or they're used to receiving attention and cannot handle it when it's not given to them.

♱ 3H RULER IN THE 6H ⟶ when someone has this placement it means anxiety over-load and paranoia. the type of people who always think people have it out for them but sometimes they could be projecting stress to themselves therefore the paranoid mindset. however, these people are very crafty and knowledgable and people might rely on them on the most niche information. they could be devoted to learning, reading or anything that stimulates the brain. their mind could be their own enemies but it could relate to trauma from relatives or school.

♱ 3H RULER IN THE 7H ⟶ to have this placement means that you are someone who is seen as talkative, a charmer and sometimes someone who talks to talk. likes to hear their own voice, but the great thing about you guys is that you can be very persuasive, and even manipulative. you understand the dynamic between humans and know how to adapt to it. these people were likely other people's crush or they crushed on people a lot. sharing bonds with other people you cherish, these people are likely into manifestation.

♱ 3H RULER IN THE 8H ⟶ to have this placement means you are always thinking of ways to protect yourself and have a permanent foundation. person can be easily swayed or have a mind that is not hard to break. could be a bearer of secrets, people usually find themselves wanting to give to said person. could have chaotic bond with relatives, or could be the relative people depend on or treat as the black sheep. this person can have a "taboo" job.

❦ 3H RULER IN THE 9H ⟶ having this placement can indicate that your mind is always on the run. could be the type to question faiths or be very defensive about your own. could get nervous during travelling abroad alone. could be known as the relative who is into research, writing or publishing. could be known as the friend who is into foreign people, religions etc. could be the most open-minded sibling/relative in your home/family, can be a chatterbox and could like to collect books.

❦ 3H RULER IN THE 10H ⟶ could become an influencer, have a relative who is known in an industry. could easily connect to others or always worry about how other people perceive them. could feel a lot of burdens and might be closer to father's side of the family---or father's side of the family was known to have much deceptive people. could be the face of something, known for something specific, could either be the person who follows trends easily yet can easily dominate it. commanding voice, people easily respect them.

❦ 3H RULER IN THE 11H ⟶ could have half/step siblings. popular blog online or could have a lot of accounts. likes to be apart of communities/fandoms, could have a unique speech pattern and could be known as someone who likes to be the devil's advocate. could like to get on people's nerves and be a rebel without a cause. yet people with this placement are very psychic, intuitive and ahead of the curve. others might think they're the most unique person but sometimes they end up sound like basic becky with how much they want to be different.

❦ 3H RULER IN THE 12H ⟶ delusional. loyal to a fault. dreamers! entertainers and weepers. they're connected to the spiritual realm but need to learn how to trust their gut. they beat around the bush and allow their boundaries to be blurred. yet, sometimes the person could be the deceptive one, but people might easily project onto them. other people's envy and jealousy towards them is either easily or slowly revealed the more they speak to them or about them. this placement is also an indicator of being very anxious or having intrusive thoughts, your mind is your down fall, learn how to seperate paranoia from reality.

masterlist

before this month ends, the prices for my chart readings are rising! so if you want to get a reading by its current price get it now!

❦ aphrodicci

[ghostlyferrettarot]

★🎸🎧⋆｡ °⋆Astro Observations: Love edition★🎸🎧⋆｡ °⋆

❗️All the observations in this post are based on personal experience and research, it's completely fine if it doesn't resonate with everyone❗️

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🎸I have seen that Venus is in fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), vibe well with someone who has earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) placements, they give them the grounding energy they need. On the flip side, ive seen taht water signs venus (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) might get overwhelmed by this fire placements independence.

🎸Moon in Capricorn is probably the most loyal and committed in love. They are picky but its becauuse they want a partner who can support their ambitions and understands their need for emotional stability🖤

🎸If your Moon makes strong aspects to your partner's Venus, expect an emotional connection that feels natural, nurturing, and in tune with each other's needs. If your Mars is connected to their Venus, sparks will fly, and the chemistry will be off the charts, a lot of flirting ⚡🔥

🎸 Ascendant in Libra tends to attract attention without trying—there’s something effortlessly magnetic about them. They radiate charm and warmth, often making people feel instantly comfortable. Their natural grace and people skills make them irresistible, the true child of cupid.

🎸Mars in Gemini is playful and full of flirtation. They're attracted to witty conversations and spontaneous adventures. If you can keep them intellectually engaged, they're all in. But if you bore them, they'll be onto the next.

🎸 If Venus and Mars are in harmony in your synastry chart, there’s an incredible flow of romantic and sexual energy. The attraction is magnetic, with a healthy balance between passion and affection, they are the definition of yin and yang.

🎸Ascendant in Scorpio has a powerful aura that's hard to ignore. They're mysterious, magnetic, and often have an intense presence that draws others in. It's not just about looks—there's something deeper that people are drawn to, even if not everyone wants to admit. Thay are seductive by nature

🎸Moon in Aquarius has the friend to lovers type of vibe. They need intellectual connection and love that feels free and unrestrictive, so they tend to fail for those close to them. They tend to end up in romantic connections with their best friends or people of their close circle.

[theskywithin]

Birth Chart Breakdown: Planets in The Third House

☉ Sun in the Third House Your mind shines like a restless sun, casting light over every corner of your thoughts, eager to see it all. You narrate your life in bright strokes, turning moments into meaning, as if you could keep the shadows away by naming them. Words become a way to stay alive in your own story. You carry warmth in your voice, even when you’re only speaking to yourself. And through this endless light, you stay connected to yourself, to others, to the wide open roads inside your mind.

☽ Moon in the Third House Your thoughts drift like tides, pulled by emotions that rise quietly beneath every word. In your mind, old memories replay like lullabies, both soothing and aching at once. You speak to yourself with the softness of a familiar voice, holding your own heart through the storms that no one else can hear. Even when you wander far in thought, you gather comfort from the places your mind has already called home.

☿ Mercury in the Third House Your mind is a restless current, always moving, always searching. Thoughts spark and scatter like fireflies in the dusk, impossible to catch all at once. You drift fast between ideas, but there is beauty in the speed, you weave connections like threads between stars, finding meaning in places others might overlook. Your inner voice races not to escape, but to keep building bridges between yourself and the world that waits to meet you halfway.

♀ Venus in the Third House Your thoughts wrap themselves in silk and softness, dressing your inner voice in beauty and grace. You speak to yourself as you wish others would, with gentleness, with affection, with a longing for harmony. In quiet moments, your mind drifts toward imagined conversations, to bridges you hope to build between hearts. And even when the world feels loud and cold, your thoughts find a way to make it warmer, softer, closer.

♂ Mars in the Third House Your mind moves like wildfire, igniting ideas before you’ve had time to tame them. You argue with yourself as fiercely as you fight for your place in the world, and your inner voice feels like a battle cry rising from your chest. But even when you drift far into restless thoughts, you burn with purpose. You carry a fire in your mind that clears paths where others see only walls, turning obstacles into ash beneath your steps.

♃ Jupiter in the Third House Your mind stretches like a sky without borders, hungry for the horizon even in your quietest thoughts. You wander through ideas as if they are landscapes to be explored, never content to stay in one place too long. Your inner voice is full of wonder, speaking to you like an old friend who still believes in miracles. And even when you drift far from the present, you carry with you an endless optimism, trusting that every thought leads somewhere worth arriving.

♄ Saturn in the Third House Your thoughts feel carved from stone, heavy with meaning, weathered by time. Your mind moves carefully, tracing familiar paths, building quiet fortresses of logic to protect what matters most. Even as you drift into worries or doubts, you hold onto structure, knowing it keeps you anchored. Your inner voice speaks with quiet strength, not to restrain you, but to carry you through storms you’ve long learned to survive.

♅ Uranus in the Third House Your mind is a spark that refuses to dim, a wildfire of thought that leaps across boundaries. You drift suddenly, without warning, into places others have not yet imagined. Your inner voice is not afraid of disruption, it thrives on it, lighting fires where silence once lived. And even in your wildest wanderings, you find pieces of freedom to bring back with you, offering them to those ready for change.

♆ Neptune in the Third House Your thoughts drift like fog over quiet waters, softening the edges of everything you see. You escape into imagined worlds, into dreams that feel more real than the ground beneath your feet. Your inner voice speaks in the language of longing, gentle and elusive, but full of depth. Even when you lose yourself in these mental tides, you carry a quiet magic, the ability to see beauty in places others pass by without noticing.

♇ Pluto in the Third House Your mind is a cavern filled with shadows and echoes, thoughts circling deep below the surface. You drift into corners others fear to enter, unearthing truths that feel both heavy and liberating. Your inner voice speaks in whispers and thunder, guiding you through your own underworld. And from those depths, you rise carrying the raw honesty that few dare to confront, reshaping your world thought by thought.

🪐 Want to decode your chart? It’s all in my book!!

[mxystan]

taiwan travelogue by yang shuangzi tr. lin king is indeed an award-winning banger and perhaps the first time in my life i've ever felt vindicated for dual-wielding a novel with its english translation because the act of translation itself is such a big theme in the novel. big win for metafiction-obsessed himejin everywhere!!

[cleapallea]

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪ASTRO OBSERVATION JOURNEY 𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

master list + info about me

This is based on my own personal readings; if it doesn't align with your experiences, you are free to scroll. I just want to know and spread the message that we are not battling "this" fight alone. And I use astrology to understand my fellow human.

#1 Check who is the ruler of your third house, and if the mercury also aligns with it. I have noticed most people with Capricorn on their third horse and Mercury in the third house with Capricorn as its zodiac sign often attracts hate from people who have strong placements in Saturn.

#2  People with no Planet in their first house have no idea about themselves. They often struggle to find their own identity. Kindly check if there is no planet in the second house too, because the 1st house and 2nd house are interconnected with each other.

#3.  People with strong placement in Libra especially (Libra ascendant)  don't take any revenge on someone who has done wrong to them, or if they do, it should always be reasonable enough,  because the Universe is always working with them.

#4.  People with Pluto -asc or Scorpio in their third house are into research. These types of people can control the mind of others, or themselves in any form ( through mental images, reading test judgements, etc) 

#5 I see a lot of Plutonian women hold grudges because they want to protect themselves. If you have Pluto aspecting in your 1st house or Ascendant/big three you might consider yourself as Pluto even though you are not Scorpio.  

#6  I laughed really hard with people who were born with Mercury conjunct with their 1st house/Asc. They are kinda weird but in a good way 🤩✨

#7 If you have Libra in the second house and Mercury and Venus in the second house too, then it would make your chart ruler as Venusian. Libra is ruled by Venus and  identity/ expression too, but it is placed in the 2nd house so more like possession included.

PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME

all rights reserved to @cleapallea

[gallusrostromegalus]

Im not starting another fic, but I did figure out how I would fix death note.

The short version is that instead of the mid-series twist being L dying, the mid-series twist should have been something that would force Light to cooperate with L, even confess to him, and force both L to consider what he's going to do with Light, and force Light to confront the kind of person he is, and let Misa's involvement in this debacle actually impact what happens. A twist where there is the sudden* involvement of a fourth party that makes the characters all reconsider their alignments and alliances.

*at least, sudden to the characters.

Deathnote needs a good old fashioned Ninja :)

[aftg-and-random-things]

Jean referring to himself as Riko and Kevin’s “worthless third wheel” has insane implications.

“Riko hadn't wasted his breath correcting Kevin, not wanting to give him any more reasons to protect their worthless third wheel. Jean hadn't tried either; what good would it do to confess to such an oblivious fool?”

Like why third wheel Jean….interesting word choice jeannnnn

[lilithlounge]

Hello! Could you tell me about my lilith if possible? I have an Aquarius Lilith 17° in the 3rd house. It is squaring mercury, conjunct saturn, and squaring pluto.

If anyone is interested in getting a reading, you can book one on: Ko-fi or Buy Me A Coffee and get +1 free reading.

Lilith in Aquarius 17° You question everything. Rules? Guidelines? Societal norms? Cute, but no thanks. Your mind is a mad scientist’s lab, you see the world differently, and people either love your uniqueness or find you terrifyingly unpredictable. Either way, you win. You don’t do fake. If someone is talking nonsense, you will call them out, and honestly, it’s a public service.

3rd House You probably got in trouble as a kid for “talking back” when in reality, you were just dropping truth bombs. Your words cut, shock, and enlighten, sometimes all at once. You say the things everyone is thinking but too scared to say. Your texts are a rollercoaster. One minute, you’re roasting someone; the next, you’re sending an existential TED Talk at 2 AM.

Square Mercury, your brain runs at 5,000 mph, but it can also make you overthink or say things so bluntly people need a moment to recover. Not your fault they weren’t ready for the truth!

Conjunct Saturn You fearless philosopher. Your words hold weight, and people listen when you speak even if they pretend not to. Authority figures either love you or strangle you, there’s no in between.

Square Pluto When you argue, you don’t argue to win, you argue to DESTROY. Your words dig deep, expose secrets, and leave people questioning their entire existence. Use that power wisely, my love.

[ritoryb]

lmao its kind of funny bc i used to draw lyrebirds a whole fucking lot (this is my oc a lyrebird who plays a lyre My creativity) im pretty sure the plot was (these were meant to be cover pages if they look kinda emptyyyy. also why i didnt really consider posting them) she couldnt sing or something I DONT KNOW MAN. these are all from around 2020-2022

[locking-the-tomb]

Third Read Notes

Gideon Chapter 4 & Soundtrack

In which a cavelier is created

Situps and magazines. Harrow shows up after a week.

Gideon is sulking in her room, cuff back on.

"Go choke on a dick"

"I have a job for you"

"Nonagesimus. The only job I'd do for you would be if you wanted someone to hold the sword as you fell on it." Then she continues on with a few more graphic but less foreshadowy suggestions. Then Harrow uses a bone stud turned into a hand to undo the lock.

Harrow takes Gideon to the catacomb. Gideon has to wear her "church gown". Why? Because of the cold? They get in the lift. They go down deep into a level where there were cages with machines "that nobody knew how to work anymore". Aiglamene is there sorting through swords. She says Ortus was a terrible swordsman. She and Harrow disagree about offhand weapons, Harrow likes powder or chains. Gideon doesn't catch on quickly to what's happening. She cracks up when Harrow explains. Then "Like hell I will, Nonagesimus".

Harrow tries to offer riches.

"You don't own me". "Oh Griddle, but I do!".

Gideon points a sword at her head.

"I. Will never. Trust you. Your promises mean nothing. You've got nothing to give me."

Remember that for the later discussion of earning trust.

Then Harrow goes for the guts.

"Oh, I have hurt your heart"

"I boo-hooed for hours"

Then the kicker: "It won't be the last time I make you weep" At this stage in first read I took it for the shallow face. With a recent reread behind me, this one stings. That damned splinter again.

Aiglamene yells at them, then tells Gideon to take the deal, then vouchsafes the deal. Then says to Harrow, "If she satisfies you, you must let her go". Another one that seems shallowly plot relevant but is meant for rereaders. Harrow nails that down saying Gideon can be anything she likes, have all the glories, preferably on the other side of the universe from where she is. 😳

I'm imagining this song in a tennis match style duet.

After Harrow leaves, Aiglamene lets Gideon know the Ninth House is in big trouble, "I think we're waiting to die". And reiterates that she thinks Gideon should do it. Hidden in there is an amazing compliment about Gideon being "the best swordsman that the Ninth House has produced, maybe ever".

This chapter gave us the quest to drive the plot away from the Ninth House. It let us know how good Gideon is, that she's not just a buffoon (because so far we only saw her lose to skeletons and without the scope of film we can't see the scale of it). It gave Gideon a moment to be vulnerable (boo-hooed for hours) and Harrow a chance to stay hard and mean which she does.

[sforzesco]

Weird question maybe but genuinely how do you manage to read so much and actually Retain Information?

honestly it depends, some stuff slides right off my brain like water on a smooth rock, but history has been an intense area of interest for me since I was about six (american revolution babyyyyy, back when I lived in new england I used to spend my weekends going to reenactments and museums) and if something piques my interest, then everything related to that thing will forcibly take up space in my brain against my will. I did not care about the roman economy until crassus took over my life, and now there's about a century of roman history where I'm fascinated by the economy.

it's also extremely difficult for me to to keep focused on a singular train of thought (read about Caesar's march on Rome, immediately jumped to a book about the Siege of Florence, then jumped back to Trebonius and siege warfare), so when I read a book or start researching something, I have an open notebook near by and I'll jot notes/thoughts/whatever else down in it because I remember information with more clarity if I write it down by hand, especially because I struggle to retain information I read on a screen (I also don't remember notes I take on a laptop or on my phone, it's gotta be on paper) and when I'm done reading, I'll summarize the interesting parts down for my future self

[ghostlyferrettarot]

°•. ᰔᩚ 🖤🩰Venus and what

attracts us🩰🖤 ̆̈ .•°.୨ৎ.

❗️All the observations in this post are based on personal experience and research, it's completely fine if it doesn't resonate with everyone❗️

✨️Paid Services ✨️ (Natal charts and tarot readings) Open!

🫧Join my Patreon for exclusive content!🫧

🩰If you like my work you can support me through Ko-fi. Thank you!🩰

🖤Masterlist🖤

🩰Venus in Aries: is very active. This configuration is attracted to someone who is very fast, with the ability to do, solve and move forward. Their way of conquering is with courage and even with a certain combativeness or competition, for example, someone who challenges them, very cat and mouse game. It is good to know that they do not like doubts in connections.

🩰Venus in Taurus: is very sensual. This configuration is attracted to someone who is very calm. Their way of conquering is from the body and sensuality, even with a rich meal (whether homemade or from a gourmet restaurant). They do not like to be rushed. In love they need stability and security. They especially enjoy earthly pleasures.

🩰Venus in Gemini: is very clever. This configuration is attracted to someone who is very intelligent and especially with the ability to entertain and make people laugh. At the same time, their way of conquering is with the mind, with clever words. They do not like to always make the same plans. In love, they need to be able to talk about the relationship and what is happening to them.

🩰Venus in Cancer: is very emotional. This configuration is attracted to someone with great sensitivity, who is not afraid to show their feelings. Their way of seducing is through affection, warmth and tenderness. They prefer domestic and familiar plans (and better if they are at home) rather than new and disruptive things. In love, they care about being able to feel protected and cared for.

🩰Venus in Leo: is very expressive. This configuration is attracted to someone with an extroverted and striking personality. Their way of seducing is by showing their charisma, with very colorful and shiny clothes, without shame about what people will say. They do not like to go unnoticed. In love, they enjoy romantic, cinematic-style scenes: petals, sunset and candlelight.

🩰Venus in Virgo: is very mental. This configuration is attracted to someone with a great talent for organization and order. Their way of seducing is very helpful, paying attention to details, seeing what the person next to them needs. They don't like messiness. In love, it is important for them to have well-organized and structured plans with his partner during the week.

🩰Venus in Libra: they like bonding with others. This configuration is attracted to someone pleasant, graceful and especially aesthetic. Their way of seducing is from beauty and charm, with a conquering smile. They dont like bad manners, things not following the protocol of elegance. In love, it is very important for him to seek agreement with his partner and not argue.

🩰Venus in Scorpio: is very perceptive. This configuration is attracted to intensity and strong emotions. Is not interested in a superficial bond. They way of seducing is from a penetrating gaze and from sexuality. In love, he needs fusion and total surrender. It is good to remember that not everyone has the same intensity and/or availability of surrender as you. Dose passion does not necessarily mean a lack of interest in bonding.

🩰Venus in Sagittarius: is very adventurous. This configuration is attracted to generosity, enthusiasm and joy. Their way of seducing is from confidence, with naturalness and charisma. They do not like meanness. In love they need everything to be hyperbolic and exaggerated: parties, fun, celebration and trying new things.

🩰Venus in Capricorn: is very realistic. This configuration is attracted to someone responsible, serious, hard-working. Its way of conquering is step by step, with diligence and persistence. It does not like immaturity; on the contrary, in love it needs a formal bond, with stability and commitment (preferably in the form of marriage).

🩰Venus in Aquarius: is very sociable. This configuration is attracted to someone different, with great capacity for creative and original display. Its way of conquering is from its mental speed, its eccentricity and madness. It does not like traditional or classic things. In love it is important to feel free and not to lock itself exclusively in the realm of the couple.

🩰Venus in Pisces: is sensitive. This configuration is attracted to someone sensitive and/or artistic but is, in general, very amorous and dreamy. They like someone who seduces in a subtle, spiritual and magical. They are not interested in a sexual-affective bond without love. In turn, in a relationship, a great deal of commitment and trust is needed to be able to show their hypersensitivity and not feel vulnerable.

[luciddreamingstuff]

Putting That English Degree To Use For Stickmen

[Credit to Dearest Friend for the arts. They do not have an online presence so you won't find em.]

Wooden Pickaxe: Overview. 

So, challenge accepted. Disclaimer: just because I have said degree doesn’t mean what I say is the be all, end all. Honestly this is just personal opinion at the end of the day and how I viewed certain choices. I always say: do your own research and come to your own conclusion. In this case? GO WATCH IT! THIS THING IS AN HONEST TO GODS EXPERIENCE IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE!

I’mma be honest, I remember when this series first came out (ie, I’m old by fandom standards) and yeah, I remember the first few episodes, loved it, watched some of the series and then randomly stopped. Honestly a huge mistake on my part because I missed OUT! My closest and dearest friend of a long ass time came in one day and dragged my ass back. And we watched the whole thing until 1 AM my time. But my gods, was it worth it. 

It all started with a bunch of stickmen breaking into my beloved game of Minecraft. 

And somehow it became a masterpiece. 

So I will break this up into sections for my own sanity and give a blurb for each. If you read through all of this, congratulations, there is a plate of cookies at the bottom. 

Now for my overall thoughts: it is stickmen, STICK-MEN-IN-MINECRAFT. You couldn’t get more basic than that and yet it became a grand adventure with fantastic character moments, a beautiful score, actions and choices made where words were not used, the lore is awe inspiring and just hits all the storytelling notches that truly make it something that Hollywood is never going to replicate. When I say this is the Minecraft Movie for me? I fucking mean it. 

I think there’s a saying, you don’t always need dialogue to tell a story. And the Alan Becker Team did just that. 

Stone Pickaxe: Storytelling. 

Show, Don’t Tell. Or Showing Versus Telling. You hear this all the time and wonder, what do they mean? There’s a difference between showing your audience what's going to happen versus telling your audience what’s going to happen. If you wanted a visual example of Show Don’t Tell, then look no further than the beloved Color Gang. Show Don’t Tell is something that we should all be practicing. Of course there are times where you do need to tell your audience of what is going on, but your story shouldn’t be all exposition. Let your audience discover the world with the characters. When first starting this series way back when it was just four episodes and not shorts, we got to learn about how everything worked with the Color Gang. After all, they are on cartoon logic with a video game. So we were learning along with them how everything worked and being just as surprised along with them about the key features of this new world so to speak. For those of us who have played the game for years and years, we have our understanding of the mechanics. But of course certain rules are thrown out the window once you apply cartoon logic. If you really want to equate it to something, it felt more like modded Minecraft. Which is perfectly fine. And then later on we get into actual famous mods such as lucky blocks and how they expand on the lore of it. But the lore itself of the Animation vs Minecraft will be discussed later. Anyways, throughout the story, we are mostly showing, not telling, in the literal sense. After all, none of these guys actually speak our language, communicating through gestures and examples. So how much can they actually tell us? Again, in the literal sense, nothing. But when you are talking rhetoric, you can still tell without saying a single word. And in the cases of when we find out the backstories of our main villains, that’s when you ‘tell’ so the characters, and by extension the audience have a greater understanding of why they did what they did. 

For Purple, it was told via them explaining to Green why they have to be the best, why they have to be on top. Of course we watch that through the noteblock world and its music. Now we understand motivation and it was built up nicely with dropping hints here and there through their character actions. Purple needed the validation they lacked in their life, so of course they were going to do anything about it, shown through their actions of taking over a village and ruling it over. Of course here comes Blue and Green and it completely messes that up and infuriates Purple. On the other hand, with King Orange, we see why they do what they do through a flashback scene. It's still technically telling us why they are committing these atrocities. And come to find out, the poor guy lost their family member to the game, to the code due to a glitch. All of it makes sense and the reveal is just as delicious. You’re rooting for the guy to be derezzed until he shows care for Purple as the guy had a change of heart and is trying to stop King orange from destroying everything! Once again, a prime example of Showing vs Telling. and then we see the telling, the explanation of why. When you are putting together a story, know when to show, and know when to tell. For some, you might be looking at this and thinking “oh but that’s impossible to do within a written piece of work!” I can assure you it isn’t. Think of it this way, exposition versus character actions. Here’s how I would write out the scene to follow the example of Showing: 

“King Orange had it, he finally had it! A chance to change this world, to fix what had been broken, to undo horrific actions taken upon the damned code. The light from the control staff with the game icon tearing up everything around it. Gratification at its finest. No one could stop him, not those damn kids, not anyone! Until he heard it, the whooshing of an elytra. If there’s one thing far more bitter than Nether Wart, is the bitterness of betrayal. And looking down the beam of light, that betrayal came through. Purple fought against the code destruction, pleading and reaching out to the King. Purple had looked up to King Orange, but really Purple was just the perfect pawn. And yet watching their body be torn apart, something flashed in their mind. It hurt, the color changing from Purple to a yellow. The cubes and chunks falling off Purple’s body. Something stirring deep inside. It festered, demanding to be fed like the destruction above.

Why? Why now?

Did they actually care about a subordinate? All of those moments they had together, Purple running around and gathering the colorful gang of warriors. The children that laid before them clinging onto what they had left of their bodies as they were ripped away by the corruption. King Orange felt the bitterness rise up, seeing the one before them change colors. Their heart twisting and shattering over and over as Purpled screamed out at thim to please listen, to stop this. They don’t want to lose King Orange! That they can forget all of this and become something else! If King Orangehadn’t been paying attention, they would have missed the gesture of Father. The word stung so badly, they couldn’t fight it, not anymore. and Purple . . . . Oh maker what have they done!? Purple slowly being ripped apart by their own hands! A monster! The visage from before would have been disappointed. A finally cry out and Purple slowly drifted back, into the void of nothing. 

NO! THEY COULDN’T LOSE SOMEONE ELSE! NOT AGAIN!

All of this, all of this had been for something! And instead! another had to suffer, and by their own greed. The staff fell from their hands as they raced towards the dying Purple. How could King Orange let it get this far? What was their goal in the first place? And how many had to suffer to achieve it?! King orange couldn’t let another die to this damn game, they couldn’t make the same mistake twice! A leap of faith as the stream of bright destruction took hold. Their vision disappears, their hand grabbing into Purple and there, the reason for all of this, begins to unfold.” 

Give yourself a little more credit, you can absolutely Show through writing, leaving hints. And then we get into the line of tell, where we find out more about our main cast and what had happened to them throughout. That is the art of it all. Tell when necessary, but try to show, let the audience explore this new world with your characters. Just like what we did with the Color Gang. If you ever needed an example of how to show and how to tell, go back and watch this whole thing, especially if you are a visual learner. All the bits and pieces that we might pick up throughout the story are brought forth with an explanation that wraps it all up. The fundamentals of Showing Vs Telling. 

The hero’s quest, a journey to return home, all of it interconnecting and mingling with each other. When you break it down to its most basic components, it really isn’t that complex of a story. Of course that’s at the base, and again, that’s not a bad thing. I think what people have forgotten is going back to the roots of stories and things that have already been established is not taboo. Too many things try to be new and exciting and forget the fundamentals. Without the fundamentals of what story we are trying to tell, too many things get lost and it becomes too complex to the point where your audience needs a whole powerpoint presentation just to understand what happened in the worst way possible. Trying to get the surprise on your audience with too many twists and turns? Now your audience is dizzy and the big reveal is not so. A story of progression throughout the choices made with our characters. Don’t forget, at the base of this, you have our main cast coming in and eventually saving the world. They gather their tools and skills throughout the two seasons for it to all build up to the final moment with saving the digital world. Even with our first big bad, Purple, being a first step instead of being the only villain throughout the series. After their defeat, the Color Gang are able to return back to their lives, the interlude of season two, and continue growing their skills. I think what people tend to forget is having the payout be equal to that of the challenge. Fundamental of the Hero’s quest/to save the world that people often forget. You got to have your characters actually be equal to that off the challenge. If you had thrown their season 1 selves at the final boss, they would have been destroyed or have it too far of a stretch to really be enjoyable. Part of the Hero’s quest is that montage that we get with the training arc. And too many want to skip over that, to rush it. I think having season 2 is critical for seeing the growth of our characters. All of it falling into place neatly. If you don’t put up the frames before the walls and roof, it’s all going to collapse. 

Iron Pickaxe: World Building. 

Okay here is one of my favorite things, World Building. I’d like to think World Building is my bread and butter. But at the end of the day, we’re talking about Stickmen and Minecraft. And somehow you got an amazing world from that. How so? It’s not rocket science I can assure you. But how they did it is truly fantastical! It’s a video game, it’s Minecraft. Sure it can be used as a medium for telling the story. But to use it as a part of the worldbuilding? I think that really is what sets this apart. It uses the mechanics of the game that was already established while twisting it in a way that makes sense. It’s based around the world of the game and the flexibility and imagination. With how they built the world of Minecraft into their story and the purpose it serves as a whole new land to explore, I dare argue that if you tried this with any other game, it would not be the same. What people tend to forget is how integral the world building is and what you can genuinely do with it. 

They took the game of Minecraft, added some mechanics here and there but once again kept to the heart of what it is. And that it’s a 16 bit game of blocks. With how they interact with the mechanics of the world, it meshes well with their own cartoon mechanics. And that’s the important part of when you are taking something familiar and putting it into something new. Your world building harmonizing with everything else around it is so, so important. How are you going to make cartoons fit in a game where blocks rule the land? Understand the game and the players at its core. Everything they do in the game itself honestly makes sense to me. They balance out the cartoonyness of it with something you can’t do in the base game. But with the cartoonish effect, such as Green using a fishing pole as a grappling hook? Technically you can do that with players, just not swinging around like Spider-Man. The versatility of minecraft as a sandbox is an absolute key factor here. Minecraft is what you make of it, not just as a medium to tell a story. Those who have figured out how to incorporate the world of minecraft, mechanics and all, within their world building are under-appreciated in my mind. And those who dismiss that brilliant effort do not understand the game at all. And people can tell me it's just a game. When I watch animation vs Minecraft, this is what I mean by it's more than just a game. 

Diamond Pickaxe: Characters. 

Characters! 

Love em, they are perfect, no thoughts. 

. . . .

. . . .

Okay so why are they such fun characters? I think it comes to the fact that they fully fleshed out and getting to see them with all their own moments. For example, we get to see Blue’s personality shine with them brewing potions and . . . . the Nether Wart addition (rehab, we need to get Blue into rehab.) But seeing how they invent their own solutions to problems with their love of potions. And that’s with all the characters, seeing their own quirks come to life to solve a problem. Like Red on the redemption arc and becoming a serious animal lover and all their moments involving an animal. Or how about Green getting into music and having a bit of an ego about it, only to get humbled a few times and learning to share. But likeI said, each character is getting put into a situation where you can see their bits of personalities really coming in handy in certain situations. Of course, the core of each of them being from a fighting game. And even their fighting styles drift from each other. When writing characters and seeing how they interact with others, what makes them stand out? and how well do they work with others? Simple questions to be asking yourself when writing a character. Once you’ve created the character, what makes them stand out from the crowd, if they do at all. Every character has their own unique trait that makes ‘em stand out no matter what. At their core, they are all still friends, with TSC being that pseudo leader still but giving the others a chance to shine. I think what really makes all these characters so special to me is how they balance each other out. How they learn and grow with each other and even on their own, we see how maybe the fiery determination and fierce loyalty excels in one part (think Red in Monster School) versus needing the gentle compassion and listening skills in another situation (Think Green in the Noteblock world with Purple). Because none of the characters speak, there had to be other ways to show their character traits and how it comes in handy. For Red, their loyalty to their friends is also reflected in their actions with his love for animals. Or for Green it was their music, needing to be a sharp listener in order to come up with the different pieces they play. Not to mention they have their fatal flaws as characters, which can be balanced out with another from the group. 

No character is perfect, just like how no living creature is perfect. We all have our flaws. And without said flaws, the world would be extremely boring. Yellow is a genius when it comes to Redstone building, very meticulous and their inventions have come in handy. But their flaw can be a desire for perfection. Red can be a bit stubborn, childish even, as evident during the lucky block episode, disregarding any consequences that might come out due to their actions. Blue’s tunnel vision (especially with nether wart) can sometimes leave them without hindsight. You get the idea. A Fatal Flaw is not inherently something bad and that must be fixed. No, the whole point of a Fatal Flaw is to make the character interesting and to give them a challenge. Doesn’t have to be the most serious thing out there. You could have the Fatal Flaw be a phobia of bananas. A perfect person? No. Perfection is arbitrary, there is no such thing. Something can be perfect to you as it meets all your standards. But there will always be some flaw that isn't present to you but to someone else. Truly a "eye of the beholder," sort of deal. That's fine, fantastic even. Explanation aside now, since Nuance is a lost art these days . . . That's a whole other conversation. There will always be some kind of Imperfection, and we get to see it play out. Hell you can have characters have the same Fatal Flaw, in the case of the Color Gang, they are all competitive as shit. They can put their differences aside when needed. But given the chance of competition? None of them can resist. And it makes sense with their backstories and their nature. 

Redemption. Let's talk redemption. 

So it is no secret that redemption of a villain for me is hit or miss, mostly miss these days. Every villain is to get redeemed and some people aren’t just shitty people and blah blah blah. Personally a bad message to send about how sometimes, people are just horrible and there is a time and a place and not to mention not setting yourself on fire—we can talk about that later. We’re here to talk about Character Redemption done right. See, King Orange and Purple had their redemptions within the series. And it was one of the few times I didn’t roll my eyes. No secret to anyone I think modern villains being redeemed left and right is stupid. But with King Orange and Purple, it makes sense for them. Were their actions justified in the end? To some extent, no. But now we understand why they did what they did. For King Orange, the block game killed their sibling. If I were in their shoes . . . uh, boots? I would have done the same. Doing everything one can to bring back their only family member. But when someone goes too far, such as sacrificing the lives of many? Can he be redeemed? I think so. At least for here, King Orange became proactive, in trying to fix their mess. And especially do right by Purple who had been chasing that familial connection ever since they met. 

For Purple? Daddy issues! Woo! Usually it makes them an artist, but in this case, a tyrant? Sort of. Purple had been craving that connection and validation. And it took Green finally listening to them and their story, explaining why they took the actions they did. And this is when you can offer sympathy, to put them on the right path. And in this case, it makes sense. Green offered that bridge and Purple, through some soul searching, saw that bridge and took it. In this case, Purple worked to try and fix this, sacrificing themselves in order to reach King Orange and make them realize they had fucked up badly. If you do not make your redeemed villains proactive with their redemption. Or even have it be justified (looking at you White Diamond, fuck you Disney), there needs to be balance between time and action. If they didn’t do too much but are scrutinized to death while they are trying to be better? Then at that point, why try at all? And it has to be genuine. I’m not saying folks need to immediately forgive and move on. The Color Gang chose to forgive King Orange and Purple, and that’s perfectly fine. If they didn’t forgive right away and needed some time, that’s fine as well. Technically speaking, we see more of the Color Gang interacting with Purple rather than King Orange. For me that can be interpreted as they might not fully forgive him. It might take some time but both sides are trying. There’s a balance of time and grievance, for some, it was too much and they don’t have to forgive. While there is an understanding of lives fully separating and paths diverging, never to cross again. Perfectly fine. Once again, nuance, gotta love good old nuance. Why did the Color Gang forgive the pair? Well for starters, it was Green who reached out first, giving Purple a chance to change and help save the world. There that bridge was created for Purple to cross. And then later, King Orange would find that bridge and cross themselves. It was a great effort on both sides, with TSC coming in with the final clutch to stop Minecraft and everything inside completely disappearing. King Orange knows what they did was wrong, and put themselves on the right path to try and do Right. Both by themselves and by Purple, who had been at their side when the slip into utter madness and villainy took hold. For me, it will be a while before King Orange really finds their footing again. Their life had been absorbed into finding a way to bring their sibling back. But if we had learned anything about King Orange, they’re resilient and will find a way to stand. But at least this time, they won’t be alone. 

I am so sorry for the rambliness of all of this. You can blame the fact that media literacy is on a rapid decline and it is driving me insane. One shouldn’t fucking need a degree to understand that the door is in fact blue for a reason. As a writer, this disappoints me greatly. 

Netherite Pickaxe: Final Thoughts. 

I think there is a lot to be said about the overall story here. Key Factor Here that too many forgot about: YOU. CAN. HAVE. FUN. TELLING. A STORY! It doesn’t always need to be something so stupid compelling and a chess match in order for it to be good. Read that again: IT DOESN’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SOMETHING DEEPLY COMPELLING. It can absolutely can, which when you think about it, our beloved stick figures, it goes deeper and deeper, all the way to bedrock where we find the heart of the issue. And it's between a choice, a series of spiraling staircases that lead to the near end of an entire world. Sometimes I want to have fun, sometimes I want to be on the edge of my seat. And where Parkour Civ was a fun story about our underdog rising to the top. We had Animation Vs Minecraft starting out like that, but then it becomes more and more, adding onto these layers and watching it truly grow into something massive. The in depth story that we got to see from the Alan Becker Team was wrapped up in a nice little bow with the world being saved, the heroes returning home, and the reformed villains looking for their own space. But when you put in the thought and care into something, like AvM did, you could have something so simple and yet have it be remembered with such fondness. It can be outlandish, it can be something that has been thought of before but not in that context. Cartoons' interaction with the block game isn’t new. But they took that concept and ran away with it. And I absolutely love that. 

If you were to ask me how I felt about the whole thing when it first started coming out, I’d tell ya it’s pretty cool and you should go check it out. Now that I’ve ran through the whole thing and took it apart somewhat, I’d tell ya it’s honestly a masterpiece. There is so much going on here that I haven’t touched upon because I was looking at this from a writer’s point of view. A breakdown of the action and animation would be a bit out of my reach. So this is what I can do for the moment. Truly I do appreciate all the care and work that went into this series and I do wonder where in the world do you go from there? For me, the story seems pretty wrapped up and it’s back to shenanigans. Because you have a pretty clean cut ending. And with Animation vs. Animator, there’s a lot going on there. So for the most part, season 4 is going to look like season 2 where it's back to shenanigans after the world nearly ended. As we have been seeing with the recent videos. I wouldn’t mind touching upon the fact that the world nearly did just end. But with the Color Gang, life does go on, and that’s how they have always been. Who knows what the team has in store for this, if they were to decide to pull something like this off again. I don’t know in all honesty, what do you think? Personally, I think it’s a nice break from the craziness that we experience and the other series running alongside. 

Regardless, I hope you all enjoyed this. I wouldn’t say it’s my best work. I was never good at essays, so if it seems a bit all over the place I do apologize. Writing a story and writing an essay about a story are two different things. But thank you for sticking around. And as always, I’ll be poking around. 

See ya! And don’t dig straight down. 

[jackfrostimposter]

genuinely why is there so much misinformation about the guardians of childhood book series?

[realtapiocafan]

the one thing that’s giving me hope is that unlike lou al golden has made it very clear that actually playing the young guys and developing them is the priority (and he’s really good at developing!!) so im choosing to be cautiously optimistic just off that alone 🙂‍↕️

there is hope!

shemar has upside! he has a first round grade by most analysts for a reason! i feel like most twitter users were crashing out and acting like he was just standing around the field lol, when that's not the case. the critique isn't that he can't pass rush -he can, he had almost 40 pressures last year! the criticism is that he can't finish. he can get to the qb -he just can't bring the qb down. which is a problem ofc (a major one in fact), but there's a foundation there and it's very, very possible to develop those pressures into sacks. it's not insane to think that he can't be a very good player for us.

and maybe most importantly (something that the growler podcast pointed out), shemar had consistent pressures in every game. this wasn't him feeding off the college version of the raiders and the browns (no offense to trey, he was fucking excellent, don't get me wrong -but he did get some of those sacks beating up on bad teams) (please don't kill me for this take, i say wincing). anyways! shemar (at least in college) has proven that he can get consistent pressure on the quarterback, no matter the team. for whatever reason (the texas a&m defense is WEIRD man), it didn't result in sacks. can we teach him how to turn those pressures into sacks? well, almost 40 pressures is a hell of a way to start.

but to develop him into someone who can sack, i agree that shemar HAS to play, preferably start. and myles! throw both of them into the deep end. we need to see whether shemar's capable of turning some of those pressures into actual sacks and well, EVERYTHING that myles is capable of.

like, i know we need to start winning in september and playing rookies a bunch isn't exactly conductive to success, BUTTT the eagles last year played their rookies a bunch in the beginning of the year. and they struggled. at one point, they were 2-2. but when they got to the playoffs, the rookies were already experienced. they knew what to do. i don't think the eagles win without their rookies stepping up, and the rookies only stepped up, because they were played so much earlier in the year. so to even come close to what the eagles have managed to do -pay their offense, draft their defense- we got to play our rookies early and take the gamble that it'll pay off in december/january like it did for the eagles. hopefully (🤞) al will do that.

and also considering the other available options at seventeen: it was basically either shemar, harmon, campbell, emmanwori, or starks. me personally, i'm pretty sure something about campbell and harmon's medicals scared them off (maybe harmon's missed tackles too). considering how they double-dipped at lb, it's pretty clear that they saw lb as a huge need and it makes it even more startling that they really must've not been confident campbell could be healthy enough. and idl is obviously a need (STILL a need actually), so the decision to pass on harmon doesn't make much sense to me unless the bengals either were wary of his medicals or tackling. or just believed more in shemar, that's also a possibility. and for the safeties, it was always unlikely we were going to take them, unless all three of those guys were gone. MY POINT HERE (sorry i got sidetracked rambling): the upside of shemar is that, barring unfortunate events (knocking on wood here), shemar will be on the field for the bengals. availability is the best ability and all that.

and finally, if i may interject a Hot Take here (been listening to so many podcasts recently lol, it's kinda rubbing off on me): we don't /need/ shemar to reach his ceiling - as many have said, this is basically our sam hubbard replacement. everyone says this guy has an insanely high ceiling, but i don't think the team even needs him to reach that. we just need him to be better than 2024 sam. that's all the team's asking. and we shouldn't expect a great defense, because we're not getting one, but as long as he's better than 2024 sam (which no offense to sam, but it's a pretty low bar), shemar isn't a bad pick.